The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani reacts to a pitch during Wednesday’s game against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium. Ohtani struck out three times in four at-bats against Astros ace Justin Verlander. The Angels lost 2-0. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards throws to the plate against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards wipes his face in the dugout against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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The Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani bats in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Los Angeles Angels’ Zack Cozart commits an error in the second inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards reacts as Josh Reddick rounds the bases after the Houston Astros’ Evan Gattis hit a two-run home run in the second inning at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards walks to the dugout after giving up a two-run home run to the Houston Astros’ Evan Gattis in the second inning at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards looks to the outfield as he heads for the dugout after the third inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout prepares to hit against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards in the dugout between inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout take this batting gloves off as the field is dragged by the grounds crew after he popped out to first to tend the third inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani jogs to the dugout after grounding out in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani loses his balance after swinging at a pitch during the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game against the Houston Astros. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani talks with Andrelton Simmons in the dugout during their game against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols hits a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Wednesday, May 16, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The Los Angeles Angels Andrelton Simmons grounds out to third to end the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Los Angeles Angels Garrett Richards throws to the plate against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Los Angeles Angels Garrett Richards throws to the plate against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Los Angeles Angels Garrett Richards throws to the plate against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Fans cheer for the Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani during their game against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani reacts to a pitch during Wednesday’s game against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium. Ohtani struck out three times in four at-bats against Astros ace Justin Verlander. The Angels lost 2-0. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani reacts after striking out during the sixth inning of Wednesday’s game against the Houston Astros. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani flips his bat after striking out swinging to end the sixth inning as Houston Astros catcher Brian McCann heads to the dugout on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. Ohtani struck out three times in four at-bats against Astros ace Justin Verlander. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander walks through the dugout during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Wednesday, May 16, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards throws to a Houston Astros batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 16, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards throws to a Houston Astros batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 16, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Angels center fielder Mike Trout, left, catches a ball hit by the Astros’ Yuli Gurriel as right fielder Kole Calhoun watches during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 16, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The Los Angeles Angels Garrett Richards celebrates after Mike Trout made a nice catch in center field on a line out by the Houston Astros’ Yuli Gurriel in the top of the event inning at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Los Angeles Angels’ Blake Parker throws to the plate during the Houston Astros’ 2-0 victory at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Los Angeles Angels Luis Valbuena reacts after striking out in the eighth inning during the Houston Astros’ 2-0 victory at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Houston Astros’ Justin Verlander throws out the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout in the eighth inning during the Houston Astros’ 2-0 victory at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani reacts after striking out during the Houston Astros’ 2-0 victory at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton walks to dugout after fouling out in the ninth inning during the Houston Astros’ 2-0 victory at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Los Angeles Angels’ Zack Cozart pops up in front of Houston Astros catcher Brian McCann for the last out of the game during the Houston Astros’ 2-0 victory at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Houston Astros’ Justin Verlander celebrates with catcher Brian McCann after the Houston Astros’ 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

ANAHEIM — Garrett Richards was burned by one bad pitch in an inning that should have been over.

And that was too much.

Richards gave up a two-run homer after a two-out error in the second inning, which was enough to send the Angels to a 2-0 loss to the Houston Astros and a dominant Justin Verlander on Wednesday night.

Verlander pitched a complete game, escaping his toughest jam when he got Mike Trout on a one-pitch check-swing dribbler in front of the plate to strand two runners in the eighth. The Angels got two on again in the ninth, but Verlander escaped, finishing a 118-pitch shutout that included his 2,500th career strikeout.

“When he smells the end of a game, he really turns it up,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He pitched a great game for them.”

Richards couldn’t quite keep up with the future Hall of Famer, although he still pitched one of his best games of the season. He needed only 91 pitches to get through seven innings, without allowing an earned run.

It’s been a nice turnaround for Richards since the nine-run nightmare game against the New York Yankees on April 28. In three starts since, he’s posted 1.42 ERA with 16 strikeouts and two walks. He’s improved his season ERA to 3.47.

“I’m limiting the walks,” he said. “I’m throwing more strikes. It’s allowing me to get both breaking balls in the zone. My sinker is sinking again. That’s a plus.”

His performance on Wednesday came down to one quick sequence when his mistake followed one by Zack Cozart.

With two outs in the second inning, Josh Reddick hit a fairly routine ground ball toward shortstop, where third baseman Cozart was stationed with the Angels in a shift. The ball took a strange hop just before it got to Cozart, who was still able to glove it but couldn’t get a grip to throw it. It was ruled an error.

“I thought it was like a regular ground ball, but when it got close to me, it kicked,” Cozart said. “That’s what threw my timing off. I was surprised I even caught it. It (stinks) to lose a game on a play like that.”

Cozart’s mistake was magnified a few moments later when Richards missed the location on a fastball to Evan Gattis, who hit it over the left-field fence.

Although Richards would settle down and not allow anything else through seven innings, that was too much to beat Verlander.

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“You just know you can’t make that many mistakes,” Richards said. “He’s going to put up zeroes. You try to match him. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do that. I kind of feel I lost us the game.”

Obviously, Richards can’t shoulder the blame for a loss when the hitters were shut out. Verlander, who dropped his ERA to an otherworldly 1.05 with this outing, allowed only two singles in the first seven innings, but the Angels had a shot in the eighth.

With one out, Ian Kinsler singled and Kole Calhoun, who carried a .159 average to the plate, launched a ground rule double to center field, sending Kinsler to third.

Although Martín Maldonado had been one of the Angels’ hottest hitters lately, Scioscia still lifted him in favor of pinch-hitter Luis Valbuena because he didn’t like the looks of Maldonado’s first two at-bats against Verlander. He popped out and struck out looking. It didn’t matter, because Valbuena struck out looking too.

That brought up Trout, creating the enticing scenario of one of the game’s best hitters against one of the best pitchers, with the game on the line.

Trout, however, is not at his best at the moment. He checked his swing on the first pitch from Verlander, but the ball hit his bat and rolled up the first base line. Verlander picked it up and threw out Trout, extending his mini-slump to 1 for 18.

“My timing is a little late right now,” Trout said. “It’s an easy fix. It was a big situation tonight. But there’s a lot of baseball left.”